On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. (Mark 11:15–18)
This event is a window into another side of Jesus. He swept through the temple and flipped tables to drive out what contaminated it and kept it from its purpose.
In the same way, Jesus wants to remove anything that interferes with us having a right relationship with God. That’s his purpose for coming, and these verses show the depth of his desire to fulfill God’s plan.
Following Jesus will disrupt your life. He will clear out whatever stands between us and God because a relationship with God is the best thing for us. He’s not timid about that.
Ask God today to show you what is getting in the way of your relationship with him—especially things you may not see. Ask him for the courage to clear out what keeps you from the closeness with him that he desires.